The ways of Aristotle

Aristotelian Phrónêsis, Aristotelian Philosophy of Dialogue, and Action Research

Olav Eikeland

Peter Lang 2008. 560 s.

Bogomtale fra forlaget.

Aristotle has been continuously at the frontier of philosophical reflection for almost 2400 years. Throughout the 20th century the influence of his practical philosophy has been growing. His «non-modernist» concept of phrónêsis or practical wisdom is attracting increasing interest as an alternative to both «modernism» and «post-modernism». This book is a meticulous study of Aristotle's phrónêsis and its applications to the fields of personal development or character formation and of ethical virtues. It also relates phrónêsis to the wider context of Aristotle's theoretical philosophy and of his different ways of knowing, and to both theoretical and practical concerns within modern social and action research. The whole of Aristotle's thinking is radically practice-based and directed. However, it never loses its theoretical focus. His theoretical philosophy is fundamentally dialogical. Hence, the relevance of Aristotelian thinking is striking for the current reconfigurations in the social organisation of learning and knowledge production.
Contents: Phrónêsis and Action Research - Different Kinds of General Theory - Earlier Attempts at Appropriating Phrónêsis - The Ethical and Intellectual Virtues - Different Ways of Knowing - Phrónêsis and Rhetoric - Means and Ends - General and Particular Knowledge - Developing Virtue (Excellence) - The Significance and Insufficiency of Habit / Habitus - Defining Virtue - On Dialogue and Experience - Deliberation or Definition - Theoretical Wisdom as the Highest Practical Good - Different Kinds of Theory, Different Kinds of Practice - Methodological Guidelines for Autonomous Practitioners - The Wisdom of the Commons - Common Wisdom - Theor-ethics and the Way of Theorethics - Aristotelian Politics - Neo-epistemic, Dialogical Action Research - Transformations of Modern Work Life - Aristotle Suspended.